War veterans banned from flying flag over fears they may hurt themselves

War veterans could be banned from flying the union flag over a town hall because of health and safety fears they may hurt themselves when hoisting the standard.

By Richard Savill

5:16PM BST 25 Jul 2008

Royal British Legion members in Calne, Wilts, have campaigned for months for the right to hoist the flag over the town hall, amid opposition from councillors.

They believed they had won the battle when the council agreed to consider handing over control of the flag to the Legion.

However, the Legion says the council has now produced a 50-point health and safety document which would prevent anyone with specified physical ailments from accessing the town hall roof.

The criteria rules out most members of the local Legion branch, as they are aged over 60. Younger members are employed and the Legion said they would not have the time to do maintenance and raise the flag.

John Ireland, a local councillor, who is also the Legion branch chairman, said: "We have fought bravely and many of us risked our lives in a world war so we are perfectly capable of going up a ladder a few feet to put a flag up on a roof.

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"It is absolutely ridiculous to be talking about health and safety. All the council is trying to do is find excuses to stop us flying the flag."

Accusing the council of "sneaky" behaviour, he added: "What they gave in one hand, they took away in the other, knowing full well that none of us are fit enough to match those rules."

Margaret Russell, the Legion branch treasurer, said: "The whole point is that we want to show the people of the town and the brave families of those who died, and troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, that we are proud of them.

"The only thing which represents them is the flag and the town hall is the best place to put that.

"The council has tried to prevent us from doing this and the health and safety rules are just the latest hurdle they have put in our way."

Last November, the 19-member council rejected Mr Ireland's proposal to fly the flag permanently over the town hall.

Opponents cited the pounds 80 annual cost as a concern and said the flag would lose significance if flown every day.

The council later agreed to consider handing control of the flag pole to the Legion. This meant the Legion would cover the cost.

However the council has since produced a health and safety report which members must consider before voting on the proposal.

It says the physical and psychological well-being of anyone seeking permission to gain access to the roof should be considered, and lists several ailments including heart problems, asthma, high or low blood pressure, a fear of heights, depression, poor sight, and diabetes.

The Legion said it could not get a younger non-member to raise the flag because they would not be covered by the Legion's pounds 10million insurance policy.

A council spokesman could not be contacted for comment yesterday (Fri).